are electric scooters the new bicycles?

[WouldBe]

We teach kids to swim at school we should be teaching them to ride bicycles in public safely as well as part of the curriculum. We really need to build more dedicated cycleways though so that pedestrians, cyclists and motorists are properly segregated and mix as little as possible.

Local primary school does. They regularly take a class of pupils out riding.

We used to have cycling proficiency lessons when I was at primary school.

 

[BristolEcho]

They are good I think. Need a bit of regulation, but overall people are using them rather than a taxi around here.

They need to be limited to a certain speed like ebikes, and we need to continue to adapt our public spaces so that pedestrians and cyclists can move around easier and safer, whilst also reclaiming the streets from cars.

 

[sleaterkinney]

They have scant regards for the rules of the road like many cyclists. Because they move faster than cyclists, quite a bit faster in fact, they are much more dangerous.

The reality is, if I had a camera and went on a busyish route to work I would get 4 or 5 motorists a day properly breaking the law. They are the most dangerous things on the road, by a huge margin.

 

[gentlegreen]

There are some very illegal electric bikes on the local shared path ...

There's always a rental scooter parked under a bridge when I go for my ride - presumably to block the GPS - not sure how that works as surely they can see that one or more scooters go off piste at the same spot - and it's the responsibility of the hirer to park it correctly... one got chucked in the park lake a couple of months back...
The light is always flashing on it so it's getting charged ...

 

[sleaterkinney]

They have scant regards for the rules of the road like many cyclists. Because they move faster than cyclists, quite a bit faster in fact, they are much more dangerous.

You’re all over the cycling threads in the sports forum, is this just a really shit wind up?

 

[SpookyFrank]

We teach kids to swim at school we should be teaching them to ride bicycles in public safely as well as part of the curriculum.

There is cycle training for school kids. It's not done as part of the curriculum though. Some local authorities fund it, some don't.

 

[cupid_stunt]

Private e-scooters require both a driving licence and insurance, I bet most users don't have either.

What happens if you get caught riding an electric scooter UK?

If caught riding an e-scooter, fines you may receive can include: a Fixed Penalty Notice for no insurance; with a £300 fine and six penalty points. a Fixed Penalty Notice for no driving licence, up to £100 fine and three-six penalty points.

 

[gentlegreen]

Rental scooters apparently need a provisional license - I thought private ones were still illegal ?
EDIT:- apparently yes.
Around these parts it's all pretty informal.
Electric bikes often make me sad when I'm out on my daily exercise 8 miles.
This evening there was a chap roughly my age riding side saddle on one with fat tyres and almost certainly an illegal motor.

 

[T & P]

Not that it’s an either/ or situation, but illegal e-bikes (or rather, most of the people who operate them) are a far bigger problem and risk for pedestrians.